Health Differences and Gender: What’s the Difference?

While we’re very much alike in many ways, a few key differences separate the physiology of men and women.

Take hormones: While we all need testosterone and estrogen, men require more of the former and women the latter hormone for optimal health. Scientists even point out different ways in how the male and female brains work.

Understanding these and other differences can help researchers prevent or treat diseases while providing optimal care for men and women. Take the fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) in flaxseed in flaxseed oil.

For women, it’s a healthful fat. But for men, 4 studies find a link between ALA and prostate cancer. Researchers recommend that men get omega-3 fatty acids from fish and vegetable fats mostly from olive oil.

That said, overall men and women share very similar nutritional needs.

Female & Male Nutrition: The Macro- and Micro-nutrients

The primary factors that determine caloric requirements are body size and physical activity levels. In other words, if you’re tall, muscular, and/or have a larger body frame, you’ll require more calories regardless of whether you’re a man or woman.

That same approach goes for protein, carbohydrates, and (for the most part) dietary fat. To stay healthy, both genders require quality protein sources, nutrient-dense carbohydrates, and healthy dietary fat with a particular focus on the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

Where gender differences in nutrition become more clear is with micronutrients:

Selenium.Some research suggests this mineral could reduce the risk for prostate cancer, leading some experts to recommend 200 micrograms a day for men (about 4 times above the RDA).

Nutrient Requirements

Women and men also require different nutrients at different times of their lives.

“Nutrient requirements change as we get older, in large part because of changing hormone levels,” says Leslie Beck about optimal health for males and females. “Tailoring food intake to match nutritional needs is important to maintain immune function, prevent bone and muscle loss, preserve eyesight and protect our cells from free-radical damage.”

Additionally, females have specific nutrient needs during pregnancy and other important life changes. Women have a higher risk for osteoporosis during menopause, for instance, which increases the demand for certain nutrients like calcium and vitamin D.

Specific conditions also impact women differently than men. These 4 conditions can impact anyone, and dismissing them as “primarily a problem for women” or “mostly a guy’s disease” can jeopardize everyone’s health and even become deadly.

Among their issues, thyroid disease can create problems with your menstrual period, getting pregnant, and health problems for the mom and baby. Likewise, a woman’s risk for thyroid disease (especially hypothyroidism) increases after menopause.

The myth that females are somehow protected against heart disease can be deadly. In fact, heart attacks have increased over the past two decades for women in midlife (35 to 54 years), whereas that risk has decreased among similarly aged men.

While men and women share the same risk factors for heart diseases, women have additional risk factors. According to Leslie Cho, MD, during pregnancy, these risk factors include:

Depression comes in different forms. If you suspect you are experiencing symptoms of depression, please do not dismiss them, contact your healthcare practitioner who can direct you to the right professional help to address your depression.

Nutrient Support for Men and Women

Certain conditions impact one gender more than another. Likewise, women require slightly different nutrient needs based on specific life events including menopause. For the most part, however, men and women have very similar nutrient needs.

Tailoring an optimal plan for your condition starts with your diet. Depending on your condition, our Core or Advanced plan provides all the nutrients you need to stay lean, healthy, and feel your best at any age.

Eating optimal amounts of healthy fats, protein, and nutrient-dense carbohydrates become the perfect strategy for any age and gender. Beyond that, work with your healthcare practitioner with the strategies below to tailor a plan that works specifically for your needs:

Take a targeted multivitamin. Men and women require certain amounts of specific nutrients. A good multivitamin and mineral complex will account for those requirements while incorporating additional gender-specific nutrients. Our women’s multivitamin contains nutrients like green tea extract and curcumin that target breast health, for instance, whereas our men’s multivitamin contains nutrients that support prostate health.

Start with the basics. Numerous obstacles — including poor topsoil lower in vitamins and minerals — means we don’t always get the optimal amounts of the nutrients we require from food. Beyond a multivitamin, everyone should incorporate a few foundational supplements that cover those nutrient bases:

Magnesium Glycinate — most of us don’t get enough of this mineral that plays a part in over 300 enzyme systems, making supplementation essential. Magnesium is very calming, so taking it before bedtime can help you fall and stay asleep.

The MaxLiving Daily Essentials is a great start to proper nutrition: all of your essential nutrients conveniently packed in daily packets.

Stress — once you have diet and lifestyle factors dialed in, a few supplements can help you better manage stress levels. Chronic stress depletes B vitamins, for instance, so using a B Complex (with Delayed-Release) can help replenish those levels.

Immune support — if you’re prone to getting sick during cold and flu season, consider the immune-supporting formula Daily Defense.

Biochemical individuality underlies nutrition and vibrant health. That’s a fancy term to say everyone is different. You are unique, and so are your nutritional needs.

Working with a healthcare practitioner can help individualize a program just for you, address specific gender- or age-related concerns, and maintain health and wellbeing at any age.

Just because statistically women or men have higher risks for specific health conditions doesn’t mean you need to accept these as your fates. You have tremendous control over your health with the everyday choices you make starting with what you put on the end of your fork.

Discuss including these and/or any other additional supplements with your healthcare practitioner. Never modify any medications or other medical advice without your healthcare practitioner’s consent.

Disclaimer: The information provided on this website, by MaxLiving, is for general use only. Any statement or recommendation on this website does not take the place of medical advice nor is meant to replace the guidance of your licensed healthcare practitioner. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. MaxLiving information is and products are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent any disease or provide medical advice. Decisions to use supplements to support your specific needs should be considered in partnership with your licensed healthcare practitioner.